Denis Coderre pledges to help boroughs fund green alleys in first campaign promise

Denis Coderre, who launched his campaign for re-election as Montreal's mayor on Friday night, made his first election promise Saturday afternoon in a Villeray alley.

Coderresays he would add another $1 million to the the city's yearlychild policy, to go towards creating more green alleyways in the city's boroughs. The money would also fundwinter maintenancethat that would make it easier for children to play in the alleys all year long.

The child policy currently has a budget of$5 million to fundprograms that helpyouthaccess city services, including libraries and public transit, as well as a school breakfast program.

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Under Coderre's promise, boroughs would apply to convert a back alley into one of the city's more than 300 "Ruelles Vertes" alleys that have been refurbished with greenery and spaces residents can use, likeas sitting areas.

The city would then fund 50 per cent of the successful projects to help createa green or white (for winter) alley.

Coderrepledged the same percentage for alleyway art projects approved by the city.

"We need to be tangible and Ifelt that to say that our priority are youths is a great way to start a campaign," Coderretold reporters in a "green alley" in Montreal's Villerayneighbourhood Saturday.

5 km/h speed limits

He also promised to reduce the speed limit in all of Montreal's 4,000 or so alleys to five kilometres per hour. The city's alleys makeup a total of 475 kilometres of pathways.

Coderremade the presentation with Villeraycity councillorElsie Lefebvre, who joinedquipe Coderrein lateAugust. She was previously an independent councillor.

Coderresaid the green alley funding was being integrated into the child policybecause alleyways are one of the spaces close to home wherechildren can play.

"When we say we want to develop community spirit, well this is it," he said. "Alleys aren't just a living environment, we're also talking about creativity, of urban art."